EWS | DIGEST Clean energy can drive economic recovery Investment in clean energy could boost the global economy by $98trn and accelerate the financial recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena). In its latest Global Renewables Outlook report, it stated that the number of jobs in the energy sector could quadruple to around 42 million on the back of clean energy expansion. Decarbonisation will require investments of more than $130trn to deal with the most severe climate impacts, but the agency claims this would be offset by massive socio-economic gains. It envisages a time when renewables account for 70-80% of energy systems in a number of continents and this would deliver $98trn in GDP gains by 2050 compared with current business as usual models. Biggest building safety changes in generation Highrises over 11m must have sprinklers and consistent waynding signage Ambitious steps to reform building safety so residents are safe in their homes were announced by Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick last month. New measures include mandatory sprinkler systems and consistent waynding signage in all new blocks of ats more than 11 metres tall. The governments construction expert, David Hancock, has also been appointed Europe needs renovation wave The Buildings Performance Institute Europe (BPIE) has published a strategy for delivering climate neutrality for Europes buildings by 2050. An Action Plan for the Renovation Wave: Collectively achieving sustainable buildings in Europe provides evidencebased recommendations for EU institutions, member states and local authorities, along with private sector stakeholders and engineers. Executive director Oliver Rapf said it was important to address climate change and support the economic recovery together after the coronavirus crisis by getting serious about launching a renovation wave. He said the transformation will be in the form of a well-prepared integrative process [that includes] construction and renovation practices, the way buildings are integrated with power and heat networks, strategies to make buildings resilient to the impacts of climate change, the use of digital technologies and how renovations are financed. Grenfell Tower to review the progress of removing unsafe aluminium composite material cladding from buildings. The reforms are designed to incentivise compliance and to better enable the use of enforcement powers and sanctions, including prosecution where rules are not followed. Jenrick will hold a roundtable with mortgage lenders to work on an agreed approach to mortgage valuations for properties in buildings under 18 metres tall. He said: The government is bringing about the biggest change in building safety for a generation. We have made a major step towards this by publishing our response to the Building a Safer Future consultation. In its response, the government said that work had begun to establish the Building Safety Regulator in the HSE, who will oversee the safety and performance of all buildings, and promote the competence and capability of those working in the industry. Jenrick added work to remove unsafe cladding, as well as vital maintenance and repair work, will continue despite Covid-19. Covid-19 triggers emissions fall Carbon emissions from the global fossil fuel industry could fall by a record 2.5bn tonnes this year as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. This would represent a drop of nearly 5% and is triggered by plummeting demand for oil and gas as huge restrictions are placed on travel and industrial processes. Data gathered by The Guardian suggested the biggest annual drop in CO2 emissions on record greater than those recorded in all the economic recessions of the past 50 years combined. This will take emissions down to their lowest level in more than a decade. The International Energy Agency said it expected US energy-related emissions to fall by 7.5% this year and studies suggest Europes emissions had fallen by more than 50% since countries went into lockdown. That fall is expected to quickly start reversing when restrictions are lifted. PARASOL Zenith Ready for change SITE D ON E SOLV High performance 4-way distribution comfort module with cooling, heating and ventilation. PARASOL Zenith offers all the benefits of active chilled beam technology with added flexibly throughout your project. With the options of constant, variable or demand control air flow, PARASOL Zenith provides the perfect indoor climate. Parasol Zenith Ad Folder CIBSE.indd 1 8 May 2020 www.cibsejournal.com CIBSE May20 pp08 News.indd 8 13/02/2020 15:45:45 24/04/2020 15:46